California
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California is a state on the west coast of the United States. It is the largest state in population and the third largest state in area. Its Governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
History
California's first European contact came in the 16th century AD. Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando Cortez explored Alta California (upper California) extensively during this time period. Several years after this, Juan Rodrigeuz Cabrillo explored the area in his search for a passage to Asia. [1] The Catholic church established a strong presence in the area over the next 200 years by establishing a number of missions in the area. [2]